FSU Panama City using humanoid robot to attract STEM students // VIDEO, PHOTOS

By JACQUELINE BOSTICK / The News Herald

Published: Monday, September 16, 2013 at 07:10 PM.

“The most fantastic thing he can do is to really inspire,” Alam said. “He has done things that have made me smile, and it’s odd that a robot, a droid basically, can make us human beings feel emotion towards it. It’s like a child; when he makes mistakes and fall over, he’ll say ‘ow.’ … It’s really interesting to have something robotic that can still inspire.”

PANAMA CITY — Programming Sam E. Nole may be one of the most practical ways for students to link theory with practice at one local university.

Florida State University of Panama City revealed Sam E. Nole, a humanoid robot from Aldebaran Robotics, at a press conference Monday. University administration and staff expect the robot to attract more students to the campus’ STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — academic programs.

The nearly 2-foot tall orange and white artificial intelligence agent was programmed by computer science students and Arnold High graduates Brian Hague and Bipol Alam.

“When people see something like … Sam E. Nole, people are interested,” said Hague, an FSU Panama City senior. “People want to figure out how to get him to do whatever crazy stuff they want him to do.”

Some of that “crazy stuff” showed off Monday included tai chi, the university’s signature Tomahawk Chop and a dance performance of the world-renown South Korean smash hit “Gangnam Style.”

Sam E. Nole crossed his arms and jerked his knees in lateral motion to the tune of the song, which blasted out of his head speakers. The toes of his feet rhythmically lifted off the ground and elbows lifted near his ear to move his hand in the circular motion of the dance.

Multiple sensors allow the robot to see the world around him. The robot has four microphones, two cameras, two speakers and three tactile sensors on its head. Throughout his body he has tactile, pressure, force and ultrasonic sensors.

“We’re talking about the STEM emphasis here,” said Stephen Leech, associate dean of applied studies. “Originally, Sam E. was acquired to help us with our STEM program in the summer, which is middle school and high school kids. We hopefully will excite them about computer science.”

But, since the robot has made FSU Panama City its new home, Leech seems to have broadened his vision. He said the robot could be used in college classes at the campus.

“It’s pretty cool stuff. It’s a little bit like Star Wars,” he said.

Ginger Littleton, director of the FSU Panama City STEM Institute, said the robot will help to further connect high school and college levels of education.

“What I wanted to do was fuse our wonderful college students with our classroom, and Sam E. Nole is a really great way to do that,” Littleton said. “Our students learn to program and make him walk and talk. Then they’ll work with other students across the region to do the same thing.”

The institute acquired Sam E. Nole through a $50,000 donation from AT&T. Officials said the robot cost about $16,000.

On Monday, the robot introduced himself to press conference guests.

“I am a very capable machine,” the robot said. “Brian and Bipol have been programming me for the past week and they can make me do some pretty cool things. Just imagine what I will be able to do in the future.”

After having worked with Sam E. Nole over the past week, Alam, who’s in his junior year, said the robot is more than a learning tool.

“The most fantastic thing he can do is to really inspire,” Alam said. “He has done things that have made me smile, and it’s odd that a robot, a droid basically, can make us human beings feel emotion towards it. It’s like a child; when he makes mistakes and fall over, he’ll say ‘ow.’ … It’s really interesting to have something robotic that can still inspire.”